NVCA Applauds Passage of TROL Act by Energy and Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today issued the following statement after the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters (TROL) Act of 2015 introduced by Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX).

“We commend Rep. Burgess and his colleagues for taking this important step to rein in abusive behavior plaguing our nation’s patent system.  Individuals that seek to game the system for their own financial gain undermine our patent system and threaten innovation,” said Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of NVCA.

“While improvements can be made, we believe this legislation strikes a balance of curbing patent trolls while also protecting the rights of legitimate patent holders.  As the voice of the venture industry and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem, we will continue to support carefully targeted solutions that don’t result in unintended consequences that could deter long-term investment in innovative ideas and technologies.”